Deckchair sheds 13 jobs

Sir Bob Geldof's travel outfit - Deckchair.com - has made 13 people redundant and is looking for a partner to help inject new cash into the business.

The Guardian reckons an announcement will be made within the next few weeks and names Online Travel Company (otcuk.com) as Deckchair's new partner.

So, nothing new there then; dotcom slashes staff and seeks more cash to stave off oblivion. Hardly front page stuff, is it?

Except, Ian Neale, commercial director at Deckchair, doesn't know what all the fuss is about.

He told El Reg that the job cuts were announced two weeks ago.

So why is it only being reported now, we asked?

Dunno, he said.

Did Deckchair issue a press release announcing the cuts a fortnight ago.

That's right, said Neale, although he didn't do it.

So who did?

Dunno, he said?

Were they one of the 13 made redundant, we asked?

No comment, said Neale.

How odd. Especially since a brief search shows this is the first time these job cuts have come to light, although, of course, we could be wrong.

No matter.

Oh, before you go, we asked, what's all this about Lastminute.com phoning up today trying to poach staff?

Dunno, said Neale, that's rubbish.

But I've just been put on hold and overheard you talking about Lastminute phoning up offering people jobs, no?

No comment, said Neale.

Amazing. Simply amazing. ®